Whiteout blizzard leaves two hikers stranded on a popular walking trail

The Advertiser

09-06-2025

Rescuers have fought through heavy snowfall and rising rivers to save a pair of bushwalkers who set out on a hike amid a blizzard.
Emergency services were alerted that two bushwalkers, a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, were stuck on the Kosciuszko Walking Trail in heavy snow at 7.30am on June 7.
The pair was below Mount Carruthers, about three kilometres from Mount Kosciuszko, when the multi-agency operation was launched.
Police officers, ambulance paramedics and the alpine search and rescue team formed a command post nearby and a search party set out to find the hikers.
The search party got within 1.2 kilometres of the pair before strong winds and whiteout blizzard conditions forced their retreat just after midday.
READ MORE: 'Out of reach' proposed price hikes at popular camping sites slammed
Trained alpine officers hiked on foot to find the stranded bushwalkers at 10.40pm while the search party established a forward staging area and campsite.
The hikers were found and escorted to the staging post campsite just after midnight on June 8, NSW Police said.
The group camped there due to rising Snowy River levels, strong winds and heavy snowfall, police said.
By 4am on June 8, the bushwalkers had been "successfully extracted" from the national park.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Acting Inspector Andrew Woods praised the multi-agency teamwork that showed "resilience in extreme conditions".
"As we move into the snow season, it's vital that Kosciusko National Park users are properly prepared before venturing into alpine regions," acting inspector Woods said.
"It's highly recommended that park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly," he said.
"The use of the online National Parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged," he said.
"The Think Before Trek checklist recommends some very helpful advice on clothing, alpine safety and readiness including telling a loved one your plans."
Rescuers have fought through heavy snowfall and rising rivers to save a pair of bushwalkers who set out on a hike amid a blizzard.
Emergency services were alerted that two bushwalkers, a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, were stuck on the Kosciuszko Walking Trail in heavy snow at 7.30am on June 7.
The pair was below Mount Carruthers, about three kilometres from Mount Kosciuszko, when the multi-agency operation was launched.
Police officers, ambulance paramedics and the alpine search and rescue team formed a command post nearby and a search party set out to find the hikers.
The search party got within 1.2 kilometres of the pair before strong winds and whiteout blizzard conditions forced their retreat just after midday.
READ MORE: 'Out of reach' proposed price hikes at popular camping sites slammed
Trained alpine officers hiked on foot to find the stranded bushwalkers at 10.40pm while the search party established a forward staging area and campsite.
The hikers were found and escorted to the staging post campsite just after midnight on June 8, NSW Police said.
The group camped there due to rising Snowy River levels, strong winds and heavy snowfall, police said.
By 4am on June 8, the bushwalkers had been "successfully extracted" from the national park.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Acting Inspector Andrew Woods praised the multi-agency teamwork that showed "resilience in extreme conditions".
"As we move into the snow season, it's vital that Kosciusko National Park users are properly prepared before venturing into alpine regions," acting inspector Woods said.
"It's highly recommended that park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly," he said.
"The use of the online National Parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged," he said.
"The Think Before Trek checklist recommends some very helpful advice on clothing, alpine safety and readiness including telling a loved one your plans."
Rescuers have fought through heavy snowfall and rising rivers to save a pair of bushwalkers who set out on a hike amid a blizzard.
Emergency services were alerted that two bushwalkers, a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, were stuck on the Kosciuszko Walking Trail in heavy snow at 7.30am on June 7.
The pair was below Mount Carruthers, about three kilometres from Mount Kosciuszko, when the multi-agency operation was launched.
Police officers, ambulance paramedics and the alpine search and rescue team formed a command post nearby and a search party set out to find the hikers.
The search party got within 1.2 kilometres of the pair before strong winds and whiteout blizzard conditions forced their retreat just after midday.
READ MORE: 'Out of reach' proposed price hikes at popular camping sites slammed
Trained alpine officers hiked on foot to find the stranded bushwalkers at 10.40pm while the search party established a forward staging area and campsite.
The hikers were found and escorted to the staging post campsite just after midnight on June 8, NSW Police said.
The group camped there due to rising Snowy River levels, strong winds and heavy snowfall, police said.
By 4am on June 8, the bushwalkers had been "successfully extracted" from the national park.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Acting Inspector Andrew Woods praised the multi-agency teamwork that showed "resilience in extreme conditions".
"As we move into the snow season, it's vital that Kosciusko National Park users are properly prepared before venturing into alpine regions," acting inspector Woods said.
"It's highly recommended that park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly," he said.
"The use of the online National Parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged," he said.
"The Think Before Trek checklist recommends some very helpful advice on clothing, alpine safety and readiness including telling a loved one your plans."
Rescuers have fought through heavy snowfall and rising rivers to save a pair of bushwalkers who set out on a hike amid a blizzard.
Emergency services were alerted that two bushwalkers, a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, were stuck on the Kosciuszko Walking Trail in heavy snow at 7.30am on June 7.
The pair was below Mount Carruthers, about three kilometres from Mount Kosciuszko, when the multi-agency operation was launched.
Police officers, ambulance paramedics and the alpine search and rescue team formed a command post nearby and a search party set out to find the hikers.
The search party got within 1.2 kilometres of the pair before strong winds and whiteout blizzard conditions forced their retreat just after midday.
READ MORE: 'Out of reach' proposed price hikes at popular camping sites slammed
Trained alpine officers hiked on foot to find the stranded bushwalkers at 10.40pm while the search party established a forward staging area and campsite.
The hikers were found and escorted to the staging post campsite just after midnight on June 8, NSW Police said.
The group camped there due to rising Snowy River levels, strong winds and heavy snowfall, police said.
By 4am on June 8, the bushwalkers had been "successfully extracted" from the national park.
No injuries were reported, police said.
Acting Inspector Andrew Woods praised the multi-agency teamwork that showed "resilience in extreme conditions".
"As we move into the snow season, it's vital that Kosciusko National Park users are properly prepared before venturing into alpine regions," acting inspector Woods said.
"It's highly recommended that park users monitor weather forecasts closely and continually as conditions change quickly," he said.
"The use of the online National Parks and Wildlife Services Trip Intention Forms and personal locator beacon is strongly encouraged," he said.
"The Think Before Trek checklist recommends some very helpful advice on clothing, alpine safety and readiness including telling a loved one your plans."